Combination hip and body protector



Sept. 10, 1957 T. J. soWLE COMBINATION HIP AND BODY PROTECTOR Filed May26, 1955 nited States Patent COMBINATON HE AND BQDY PRTECTR Theo J.Sowie, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application May 26, 1955, Serial No. 511,287

Claims. (Cl. 2-2) This invention relates to football players protectorsand, in particular, to combination bip and body protectors.

Hitherto, hip and body protectors for foot ball players have eitherprovided inadequate protection or have been rigid and inflexible as wellas uncomfortable to wear. Such prior protectors have ordinarily providedhip protectors (also called hip pads) and rib-and-kidney protectors(also called body protectors or blocking pads) as separate pieces ofequipment which move apart from one another to expose vulnerable partsof the body when the player crouches or bends forward. Even in thenormal positions, these separate protectors have provided inadequateprotection because the hip pad did not rest high enough 'on the hips toprotect the kidneys and lower back and the rib protector did not restlow enough on the hips to likewise protect the kidneys and lower back,whereas neither one have adequate protection to the iliac crests (topsof hip-bones).

Such prior hip pads had a natural tendency to slip down on the hips soas to expose the iliac crests to blows resulting in painful andsometimes crippling injuries. This was especially true in the case ofyouthful football players, who wore their hip pads low in so-calledcowboy fashion because this gave more comfort and freer movement, intheir immaturity not realizing the great dangers of this practice.Moreover, prior attempts to provide combination or interconnected hipand rib pads or protectors have taken the form of rib protectors tightlyencircling the upper part of the body and hip pads suspended from therib protector (blocking pad). As a result, these prior combination padswere iniiexible and uncomfortable to wear because of the necessity fortightly compressing the rib protector around the body in order toprovide complete support for the hip pads, with the result that theirmanufacture has been discontinued.

The present invention provides a combination hip and body protectorwherein the rib-and-kidney protectors or body pads loosely encircle thewearers waist above the iliac crests (tops of hip bones) to provideexible body movement, and are supported from below by opstandingsemi-rigid supporting connectors articulatedly attached to the kidneyand body pad and extending upward from vpads of semi-rigidblow-resistant material covering the hips and iliac crests, the hipprotector in turn being supported by a belt-like device encircling thehips not the waist) below the iliac crests but above the bulge of thebuttocks so that the bulge of the buttocks provides a stop forpreventing slipping downward of the pads and the pads are positivelymaintained in their protecting positions while enabling free relativemotion in all directions between the body protector and the hipprotector. The front of the body protector is also provided withverticallyspaced approximately-horizontal bars or strips of semirigidblow-resistant material permitting compression of the interveningmaterial while the player bends forward.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide acombination hip and body protector wherein f'ice the hip protector ispositively positioned by a belt device encircling the hips below theiliac crests and above the bulge of the buttocks, and the body protectorfor the ribs and kidneys loosely encircles the rib-and-kidney areas ofthe body and is supported from below by upstanding semi-rigid supportingconnectors resting upon and secured to the hip protector in such amanner as to provide complete flexibility and relative motion betweenthe two protectors and at the same time maintain them in theirprotecting positions without separation thereof, when the playercrouches or bends forward.

Another object is to provide a combination hip and body protector of theforegoing character wherein the semi-rigid connectors are articulated tothe body protector and hip protector so as to further enhance therelative flexibility therebetween.

Another object is to provide a combination hip and body protector of theforegoing character wherein the hip and body protectors are positionedclose to one another yet without the overlapping which in priorprotectors hindered relative motion between the protectors and hamperedthe wearer in his bodily movements during play.

Another object is to provide a combination hip and body protector of theforegoing character wherein the hip protector has upwardly-rising iliaccrest protecting portions and the body protector has upward indentationsreceiving such upwardly-rising portions in verticallyspaced relationshipso as to insure such protection at all times while enabling completeexibility of bodily movement in all positions of the body.

Another object is to provide a combination hip and body protector of theforegoing character wherein the hip protector and the body protectorcannot separate from one another and thereby expose portions of thespine or kidney areas to danger of blows and consequent injuries, yetwhich will be free from tight encirclement of the body and will permitcomfortable wear and ventilation as well as free breathing than priorprotectors.

Another object is to provide a combination hip and body protector of theforegoing character wherein the upstanding scuri-rigid connections arealso of blowresistant material, such as plastic or ber, so that inaddition to providing a flexible interconnection between the hip andbody protectors, they themselves also provide additional protection forthe iliac crests and adjacent portions of the body, these membersthereby performing a three-fold function of supporting, connecting andprotecting.

Another object is to provide a combination hip and body protector of theforegoing character wherein shoulder straps and other parts common toprior protectors have been eliminated, with a consequent reduction inthe cost of manufacture and a resulting lower cost to the player orinstitution equipping these players.

Other objects and advantages lof the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description of the accompanyingdrawings, wherein: s

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a combination hip and body protectoraccording to one form of the invention, with the body outline shown indotted lines;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the combination hip and body protectorshown in Figure l;

Figures 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the major part of a modiedcombination hip and body protector of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a further modification ofthe combination hip and body protector shown in Figures l and 2;

Figure 5 is -a fragmentary side elevation of a still furthermodification of the combination hip and body protector shown in Figuresl and 2; and

Figure 6 is anY enlarged fragmentary approximately vertical sectiontaken along the line 6 6 in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures l and 2 show a combinationhip and body protector, generally designated 10, according to one formof the invention, as consisting of a hip protector 12, a body protector,gcnerally designated 14, and upstanding supporting connectors, generallydesignated 16, by which the body protector 14.is pivotally supportedfrom below by the hip protector 12. The hip protector 12 is `shaped toconform to the contour of the torso T and curved outwardly andrearwardly as at 18 to form a rearward guard portion 18 conforming tothe bulge of the buttocks B. The hip pro.- tector 12 also has adownwardly-extending side guard portion 2) on each side thereof,separated from the rearward guard portion 18 by a rearward and upwardindentation 22. The rearward guard portion 18 has a down- Ywardly-arched central part 21 (Figure l). The side guard portions areseparated from one another at the front by an upwardlyarched indentationor. cutaway portion 24. Each side guard 20 also has an upwardly-curvingiliac crest protectingportion 26 (Figure 2) having an upwardly-anchededge 28 which curves downwardly and centrally at the front indownwardly-arched indentations or edges 30 toward their free ends 31 atthe front (Figure l). The edges 2S also curve downward to meet the ends32 ofthe upper edge 34 of the rearward guard portion 18, the upper edge34 being arched upward at its center (Figure 1).

The side guard portions 20 of the hip protector 12 are provided neartheir lower ends with hip pads 36 of semirigid blow-resistant material(Figure 2) and the iliac crest protecting portions 26 are provided withiliac pads 3S of similar material, located adjacent the iliac crests(tops of the hip bones). The rearward guard portion 18 immediately abovethe bulge of the buttocks B is provided with a spine-protecting pad 40also of simi-rigid blowresistant material, and a belt device 42encircles the hip protector 12 at a location below the iliac pads 38 butabove the bulge ofthe buttocks B, namely above the outwardly andrearwardly-curving lower portion 44 of the rearward guard portion 18immediately below the inwardly-curved portion 46 thereof which bendsinwardly and forwardly to-conforrn to the shape and contour of thespine. The `belt device 42 is secured to the hip protector 12 and at itsforward ends 46 and 48 is provided with a buckle-50 for facilitatingadjustment and tightening or loosening of the hip protector 1-2 atitsfree ends 31.

Secured as by stitching, riveting or in any other suitable manner to theupwardly-extending iliac protecting portions 26 ,of the hip protector 12are lower brackets S2 of U-shaped Icross-section (Figure l) which haverecesses 54 serving to support the lower ends 56 of the upstandingsupporting connectors 16 in-a pivotal manner, such as by a lacing 58extending through holes 60 in the brackets 54 and connectors 16. Asshown inV Figures l and 2, the brackets S2l are secured to the iliacpads 38 for convenience and-strength of anchorage. The upstandingsupporting connectors 16 are in the form of bars or stripes ofsemi-rigid material, such as plastic of fiber, and the holes 60 aresufliciently larger than the lacing 58 to permit a pivotal or rockingmotion betweenV the brackets 52 and the v supportingv connectors 16.

The upper ends'of the opstanding supporting connectors 16 are also-perforated'in linewith holes 62 in downwardly-facing invertedU-shapedupper brackets-64 which are secured by riveting, stitchingv orinany other suitable manner to the body protector 14: The upper brackets64 have recesses 66 which receive'the upper ends of the upstandingsupporting connectors 16 and a lacing 68 extends through the holes^62and performations inthe supporting connectors 16, so as to pivotallyinterconnect these members. The holes 6,2'are sufficiently larger indiameter-than the lacin`g68-to enable a pivotal or.rocking-inotiondherebetween. In this manner; the-bodyprotector'14is-supported from below by the upstanding semi-rigidsupporting connector 16 in a manner which permits not only forward andrearward but also sidewise relative rocking between the body protector14 and the hip protector 12. This connection by means of the upstandingsupporting connectors 16 also enables the body protector 14 to encirclethe body loosely for comfort, ventilation and ease of breathing andexibility of bodily motion.

The body protector 14 consists of forward segments 7i) and rearwardsegments 72 of exible material lconnected at the sides by gussets 74 offabric or similar material enabling the forward and rearward segments 76and 72 to flex relatively to one another. The rearward segments 72 onthe other hand are interconnected' by multiple vertically-spaced straps76 extending across the gap 78 between the spaced rearward edges Si](Figure l) and secured at their opposite ends to the rearward segments72 by stitching or the like,`as,at 82. TheV rearward segments 72 attheir rearward' portions 84 are inwardly-curved to fit the configurationof the back and at their lower edges 86 are upwardly-arched to conformto the upwardlyarched upper edge 2S of the iliac'protecting portions 26of the hip protector 12, but spaced apart therefrom to provide a narrowgap 88 therebetween, this gap 88 extending between the sarne edge V23and the lower edges 90 of the forward segments 76. The lower edges 9i)are also upwardly arched toward the edges 86, the highest point being atthe gussets 74.

The forward segments 76 are provided with verticallyspaced multiple barsor strips 92 of semi-rigid blowresistant material extendingapproximately horizontally across the front and side portions of eachforward segment 71). The material between the bars or strips 92 issuiciently flexible to compress slightly when the player bends forward,while still giving him complete protection at the front. The upper edgeV94 of each forward. segment 70 is lcurved downwardly as at 96 and thelower edge curved upwardly as at 98 toward the free ends 101) of thenarrow strap portions 192 and 164, which are secured to one another by abuckle 106. The forward segments 70 between the edge portions 96 and @Shave downwardly-extending edge portions 1e@ curving downwardly towardthe upper edge portions 36 of the hip protector 12.

The modied combination hip and body protector, generally designated 110,shown in Figures 3 and 6 is generally similar in construction to theprotector 10 of Figures 1 and 2, differing only in the articulation orconnection 112 between the hip protector 114 and the body protector 116.The hip protector 114 has an opstanding bracket portion 118 (Figure 6)Yof inverted U-shaped cross-section with an upwardly-facing recess 126having an arcuate bottom 122. The body protector 116, on the other hand,has a downwardly-extending tongue 124 with an arcuate lower edge 126preferably of shorter radius than the arcuate bottom 122 so'as to rockthereon in a forward-and rearward direction. The tongue 124 and outerand inner bracket portions 128 and 130 respectively are providedwith-aligned holes 132, 134 and 136 respectively receiving alacing 138.The holes 132, 134 and 136 are of larger diameter so as topermit'relatively rocking loose connection therebetween.

The further modified hip and body protector, generally designated-14Lshown in Figure 4 is generally similar to the forms shown in Figures lto 3 inclusive, except that the hip and body protectors 142 and 144 areinterconnected on their opposite sides by double upstanding connectors146 and 148V respectively spaced apart from one another in a forward andrearward direction and are madeof elastic-material. The brackets 150 and152 and their lacings 154 and 156 are similar to those described inconnection with Figures l and 2 and require no further description.

The stillfurther modified hip and body protector, gen-Verally*designated 160, shown in Figui-e5 is also generalastratta lysimilar to the forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.It more particularly resembles Figure 4, differing from it by providingdouble upstanding connectors 162 and 164 located in a forwardly andrearwardly-spaced relationship on opposite sides of the hip protector166 and body protector 168 respectively. The upstanding supportingconnectors 162 and 164 are of a semi-rigid material, such as fiber, andtheir brackets 170 and 172 and lacings 174 and 176 are of similarconstruction to those described above.

1n the operation of the invention, as regards the combination hip andbody protector of Figures l and 2, the player opens up the hip protector12 and body protector 14 by unfastening their respective buckles 50 and166 so that he may slide their free ends 31 and 100 respectively pasthis body, fastening the buckles and 106 at the front when the protectors12 and 14 are in their proper positions. The buckle 50 is fastenedrelatively snugly so that the hip protector 12 rests properly upon thehip and buttocks, without danger of sliding down. The buckle 106,however, is fastened comparatively loosely so that the body protector 14loosely encircles the rib and kidney portions of the body and providesflexibility of motion between the protector 14 and body or torso T.

With the protector 10 thus put on, adjusted and fastened, the vitalorgans, spine and iliac crests of the wearer are completely protected atall times, regardless of whether the wearer is standing, kneeling,crouching or bending in any direction. The upstanding semi-rigidsupporting connectors 16 which provide articulation between the upper orbody protector 14 and the lower or hip protector 12 afford relativemotion between the protectors 12 and 14 while maintaining them in theirproper relationship without opening up a gap between them sufcient toexpose any vital area and leave it unprotected against biows. Theupwardly-extending iliac protecting portions 26, the iliac pads 38 andthe semi-rigid upstanding supporting connectors 16 themselves atordcomplete protection to the otherwise vulnerable iliac crests or tops ofthe hip bones and completely prevent the painful and sometimes cripplinginjuries previously resulting from the lack of protection thereof byprior guards or pads. The bars or strips 92 add to the protection of theribs and viscera yet the material between them is compressible when thewearer bends forward. Finally, the relatively loose connection betweenthe lacings 58 and 68 and their larger holes 6) and 62 enables furtheruniversal motion sidewise as well as forward and backward between theupper or body protector 14 and the lower or hip protector 12. The spineis fully protected by the protectors 12 and 14 and the base of the spineby the pad 40 on the rearward portion 18 of the hip protector 12,whereas the sides of the hips are protected by the hip pads 36.

The modified combination hip and body protectors 11), 140 and 166 areinstalled in the same manner as the combination hip and body protector10 of Figures 1 and 2 and differ only in the articulation between theirupper and lower portions. In Figure 3, the rocking connection betweenthe upper or body protector 116 and the lower or hip protector 114 isenhanced by the arcuate lower edge 126 of the tongue 124 riding on thearcuate bottom 122 of the bracket 118 on each side of the protector 110,so that forward and rearward relative rocking motion is enhanced.

in the operation of the modified protector 140 of Figure 4, the doubleupstanding elastic supporting connectors 146 and 14S also afford forwardand rearward relative rocking motion by their elasticity yet they stillfunction to support the upper or body protector 144 upon the lower orhip protector 142 with the advantages described above.

T he operation of the modified protector 160 of Figure 5 is also similarto that of the protector 140 of Figure 4, the double semi-rigidupstanding supporting connectors 162 and 164 also affording forward andrearward relative rocking motion by their laced loose connections eventhough somewhat less flexible than the elastic supporting connectors 146and 14S of Figure 4.

What I claim is:

1. A combination hip and body protector for football players, comprisinga padded hip guard adapted to encircle the players hips and t againstthe back and sides thereof, means engaging and drawing said hip guardlaterally against the hips for rmly securing said hip guard around thehips against downward movement therealong, a plurality of upstandingsupports having their lower portions connected to the upper portions ofsaid hip guard on opposite sides thereof, and a rib-and-kidney guardadapted to loosely encircle the players body at the rib-and-kidney levelthereof in vertically-spaced relationship with said hip guard and havingits lower portion connected to the upper portions of said upstandingsupports in supported relationship thereon, said upstanding supportsinterconnecting said guards for forward and backward relative rockingmotion therebetween.

2. A combination hip and body protector for football players, comprisinga padded hip guard adapted to encircle the players hips and t againstthe back and sides thereof, means engaging and `drawing said hip guardlaterally against the hips for rmly securing said hip guard around thehips against downward movement therealong, a plurality of upstandingsupports having their lower portions connected to the upper portions ofsaid hip guard on opposite sides thereof, and a rib-and-kidney guardadapted to loosely encircle the players body at the rib-and-kidney levelthereof in vertically-spaced relationship with said hip guard and havingits lower portion connected to the upper portions of said upstandingsupports in supported relationship thereof, said upstanding supportsinterconnecting said guards for forward and backward relative rockingmotion therebetween, said upstanding supports being pivoted to one ofsaid guards at the points of connection therebetween.

3. A combination hip and body protector for football players, comprisinga padded hip guard adapted to encircle the players hips and t againstthe back and sides thereof, means engaging and drawing said hip guardlaterally against the hips for firmly securing said hip guard around thehips against downward movement therealong, a plurality of upstandingsupports having their lower portions connected to the upper portions ofsaid hip guard on opposite sides thereof, and a rib-andkidney guardadapted to loosely encircle the players body at the rib-and-kidney levelthereof in vertically-spaced relationship with said hip guard and havingits lower portion connected to the upper portions of said upstandingsupports in supported relationship thereon, said upstanding supportsinterconnecting said guards for forward and backward relative rockingmotion therebetween, said upstanding supports being pivoted to both ofsaid guards at the points of connection therebetween.

4. A combination hip and body protector for football players, comprisinga padded hip guard adapted to encircle the players hips and fit againstthe back and sides thereof, means engaging and drawing said hip guardlaterally against the hips for rmly securing said hip guard around thehips against downward movement therealong, a plurality of upstandingsupports having their lower portions connected to the upper portions ofsaid hip guard on opposite sides thereof, and a rib-and-kidney guardadapted to loosely encircle the players body at the riband-kidney levelthereof in vertically-spaced relationship with said hip guard and1naving its .lower portion connected to the upper portions of saidupstanding supports in supported relationship thereon, said upstandingsupports interconnecting said guards for forward and backward relativerocking motion therebetween, one of said guards havingvertically-directed extensions thereon adapted to overlie the playersiliac crests.

5. A combination hip and body protector for football 7 Y players,comprising a padded hip, guard adapted to encircle the players hips andfit against the back and sides thereof,` means engaging and drawing saidVhip guard laterally, against theV hips for firmly securing said hipguard around the hips against downward movement therealong, apluralityof upstanding supports having their lower portions connectedtothe upper portions of said hip guard on opposite sides thereof, and arib-and-kidney guard adapted to loosely encircle the players body at theriband-kidney level thereof in vertically-spaced relationship withsaidhip guard and having its lower portion connected to the upperportions of said upstanding supports in supported relationship thereon,said upstanding supports interconnecting said guards for forward andbackward relative rocking motion therebetween, said hip guard havingvertically-directed extensions thereon adapted to overlie the playersiliac crests.

5. A combination hip yand body protector for football players,comprising apadded hip guard adapted to encircle therplayers hips andtit against the back and sides thereof, means engaging and drawing saidhip guard lateraliy against the hips for firmly securing said hip guardaround the hips against downward movement therealong, a plurality ofupstanding supports having their lower portions connected to the upperportions of said hip guard on opposite sides thereof, and arib-and-kidney guard adapted to loosely encircle the players body at theriband-kidney level thereof in vertically-spaced relationship with saidhip guard and having its lower portion connected to the upper portionsof said upstanding supports in supported relationship thereon, saidupstanding supports interconnecting said guards for forward and backwardrelative rocking motion therebetween, one of said guards havingvertically-directed extensions thereon adapted to overlie the playersiliac crests and the other guard having vertically-directed cutawayportions receiving said extensions in vertically-spaced relationshiptherewith.

' 7. A combination hip and body protector for football players,comprising a padded hip guard adapted to encircle the players hips andfit against the back and sides thereof, means engaging and drawing saidhip guard laterally against the hips for firmly securing said hip guardaround the hips against downward movement therealong, a pluralityofupstanding supports having their lower portions connectedrto the upperportions of said hip guard on opposite sides thereof, andaVrib-and-kidney guard adapted Vto loosely encircle the players body atthe rib-and-kidney level thereof in vertically-spaced relationship withsaid hip guard and having its lower portion connected to the upperportions of said upstanding supports insupported relationship thereon,said upstanding sup,- ports interconnecting said guards for forward andbackward relative rocking motion therebetween, said hip guard havingvertically-directed extensions thereon adapted to overlie the playersiliac crests and the riband-kidney guard having vertically-directedcutaway portions receiving said extensions in vertically-spaced re-Vlationship therewith.

8. A combination hip and body protector for football players, comprisinga padded hip guard adapted to encircle the players hips and t againstthe back and sides thereof, means engaging'A and drawingv said hipVguard` along, a plurality ofkupstanding supports having their lowerportions connectedV to the upper portions of said hip guardV on oppositesides thereof, Vand a rib-and-kidney guard adapted to loosely encirclethe players body atthe rib-and-kidney level thereof in vertically-spacedrelationship withV said hip guard and having its lower portion connectedto the upper portionsl of said upstanding supports in supportedVrelationship thereon, said upstanding supports interconnecting saidguards for forward and backward relativerocking motion therebetween,said upstanding supportsV havingcontact portions thereon and saidrib-and-kidneyV guard having downwardly-projecting arcuate portionsthereon disposed in rocking engagement with said contact portions. Y A

9. A combinationV hip and body protector for football players,comprising a padded hip guard adapted to encircle the players Vhips andt against the back and sides thereof, means engaging and drawing saidhip guard laterally against the hips for firmly securing said hip guardaround the hips against downward movement therealong, a pair ofupstanding supports disposed on each of the opposite sides of saidYguardsand having their lower portions' connected to the upper portionsof said hip guard, one of the supports of each pair being spacedrearwardly away from the other support thereof, and a riband-kidneyguardV adapted to loosely encircle the players body at Vtherib-and-kidney level thereof in verticallyspaced relationship with saidhip guard and having its lower portion connected to theupper portions ofsaid upstanding supports in supported relationship thereon, saidupstanding supports interconnecting said guards for forward and backwardrelative rocking motion therebetween.

10. A combination hip and body protector for football players,comprising a padded hip guard adapted to encircle lthe playeris hips andt against the back and sides thereof, means engaging and drawing saidhip guard laterally against the hips for firmly securing said hip guardaround the hips against downward movement therealong, a plurality ofupstanding supports having their lower portions connected to the upperportions of said hip guard on opposite sides thereof, and arib-and-kidney guard adapted to loosely'encircle the players body at therib-and-kidney level thereof in vertically-spaced relationship with saidhip guard and having its lower portion connected to the upper portionsof said upstanding supports in supported relationship thereon, saidupstanding supports interconnecting said guards for forward and backwardrelative rocking motion therebetween, said rib-andkidney guard being ofcompressible material at the front thereof and having elongatedapproximately horizontal semi-rigid protecting strips secured thereto inverticallyspaced relationship.

References Cited in the tileof this patent ,',UNTED STATES PATENTS1,239,980 Stewart Sept. 1l, 1917 1,915,754 OShea June 27, 1933 2,163,463Kennedy June 20, 1939 2,250,275 Riddell July 22, 1941

